Applicants' needs include car repairs

BY REBEKAH CANSLER MCGEEThe Dispatch

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 4:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 4:26 p.m.

A mother of three pulls down the bill of her hat, trying to break the wind's chill as she crosses the busy street. The light would only turn if a car triggers the sensor, but because the side street has been empty for the past several minutes, she keeps looking both ways until the cars are far enough spaced before she can dart across the roadway safely.

The slight mist in the air makes the wind even tougher to bear as she jogs across the parking lot of her place of employment. Her shift would begin in three minutes. Time is ticking down as she washes her hands and takes her place at the drive-thru window. She makes a mental note to start her journey five minutes earlier tomorrow.

As she restocks paper products, waiting for her first customer, she calculates the number of checks it will take before she has enough extra to purchase her car's needed repairs. Just this past week, her fastest mode of transportation failed, and the repairman's estimation was over $800.

The repairs will eat through her entire Christmas budget three times over plus require a little extra. So with the saved funds in addition to the next several checks, she will purchase the repairs, but everything she had planned for her children's Christmas went up in smoke the minute her car gave up the ghost.

This is one of 800 families with similar stories. Since 1981, The Empty Stocking Fund has been Santa to needy children in Davidson County. More than $34,000 went to help families this past year with donations from community members and businesses.

Donation forms for the Empty Stocking Fund run periodically in The Dispatch and can also be sent in on a sheet of paper. All donations should be mailed to The Dispatch, Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 908, Lexington, NC 27293 or delivered to the office at 30 E. First Ave. Checks should be made out to the Empty Stocking Fund.

Please include the following information, typed or clearly written, with donation checks: donor's name, amount of donation and if the donation is in honor or in memory of someone. Donors can remain anonymous if they so choose.

Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 228, or at rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.

<p>A mother of three pulls down the bill of her hat, trying to break the wind's chill as she crosses the busy street. The light would only turn if a car triggers the sensor, but because the side street has been empty for the past several minutes, she keeps looking both ways until the cars are far enough spaced before she can dart across the roadway safely. </p><p>The slight mist in the air makes the wind even tougher to bear as she jogs across the parking lot of her place of employment. Her shift would begin in three minutes. Time is ticking down as she washes her hands and takes her place at the drive-thru window. She makes a mental note to start her journey five minutes earlier tomorrow.</p><p>As she restocks paper products, waiting for her first customer, she calculates the number of checks it will take before she has enough extra to purchase her car's needed repairs. Just this past week, her fastest mode of transportation failed, and the repairman's estimation was over $800. </p><p>The repairs will eat through her entire Christmas budget three times over plus require a little extra. So with the saved funds in addition to the next several checks, she will purchase the repairs, but everything she had planned for her children's Christmas went up in smoke the minute her car gave up the ghost. </p><p>This is one of 800 families with similar stories. Since 1981, The Empty Stocking Fund has been Santa to needy children in Davidson County. More than $34,000 went to help families this past year with donations from community members and businesses. </p><p>Donation forms for the Empty Stocking Fund run periodically in The Dispatch and can also be sent in on a sheet of paper. All donations should be mailed to The Dispatch, Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 908, Lexington, NC 27293 or delivered to the office at 30 E. First Ave. Checks should be made out to the Empty Stocking Fund.</p><p>Please include the following information, typed or clearly written, with donation checks: donor's name, amount of donation and if the donation is in honor or in memory of someone. Donors can remain anonymous if they so choose.</p><p>Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 228, or at rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.</p>